April is National Gardening Month, so there’s no better time to list all the ways in which gardening benefits you, your neighbourhood and the planet.
Physical health
Even just relaxing in the fresh air on your Outback reclining chair increases your intake of vital vitamin D, but once you start mowing, weeding, planting and cultivating, the exercise benefits are huge. Many of us have sedentary, screen-based jobs, so any activity that encourages us to bend, stretch, lift and carry not only strengthens core muscles, but also increases flexibility and preserves bone density, not to mention improving heart and respiratory function.
Mental health
Gardening can be totally absorbing and offers a respite from life’s daily worries. Engaging with nature is a simple, affordable and accessible route to wellbeing. Nurturing a plant and seeing it grow provides a simple joy, which can be an antidote to the pressures of consumerism and busy corporate jobs. Gardening is tranquil when undertaking solo tasks, or social when sharing produce or in a club or allotment setting. In a RHS study, those who undertook some gardening each day had wellbeing scores 6.6% higher and stress levels 4.2% lower than those who never did any gardening.
Environment
Cultivating anything, from a tiny window box to a large, formal garden, helps the environment by providing a habitat for birds and insects and improving local air quality. By opting to use organic materials, compost waste and grow edible produce, gardeners also contribute to the overall reduction of carbon emissions.
With all these benefits, it’s time to get in the garden!
